Patiala, Oct 30 (PTI) Exuding confidence that the Shiromani Akali Dal will come to power in Punjab after next year’s Assembly elections, Sukhbir Badal on Friday said the “next SAD government” would provide power to the industrial sector at Rs 5 per unit, besides facilitating speedy clearances for the stakeholders.
Badal also appealed to the trade and industry to compare the previous 10-year tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led government with the last 10 years of the Congress and AAP governments, before choosing the next chief minister of Punjab.
“You need to choose the right chief minister who is forward-thinking and progressive. On one side is a ‘comedian’, while in SAD you have a man who has proven his mettle with speedy development and astute administration. Choose SAD for the peace and progress of Punjab,” Badal said during an open interaction with trade and industry stakeholders.
The Akali Dal chief also said that a new department – “Build Punjab” – would be created to provide time-bound clearances to builders and give top priority to setting up new IT and artificial intelligence facilities in the state.
Industry became unviable in Punjab due to high power rates of Rs 10-12 per unit, Badal said.
“Besides bringing down the rates, the next SAD government would allow industrialists to install their own solar power plants, which would bring down their power rates to Rs 1.50 per unit.
“Just like the Invest Punjab department set up by the previous SAD government to ensure time-bound clearances for new investments, Build Punjab would grant speedy clearances to builders within one month," he said.
Badal also said that change of land use (CLU) charges would be reduced and the entire process of obtaining CLU would be made transparent.
The SAD would also announce a one-time settlement scheme for all irregular colonies, Badal said.
“We will bring in an IT policy which will encourage the establishment of data centres and give a push to AI. Our focus would be to develop Amritsar and Mohali as IT hubs,” the SAD chief said.
Badal also said that on forming the "next government" they are committed to giving 75 per cent subsidy for purchase of milch animals and asserted that strict punishment would be imposed on all those who indulge in adulteration of milk.
“As SAD believes in trusting the citizens, it will introduce self-attestation to remove all paperwork and would grant all permissions online to ensure that no one needs to go to any government office for official work.
“The interests of small transporters who are being made to pay four years’ tax in advance will be looked into. The complaints of chemist shop owners that habit-forming drugs are being sold online in Punjab will also be looked into,” Badal said.
He also reiterated SAD’s promise that it will bring in a law to deny bail to drug offenders for 10 years, and seize their properties.
Elections to the 117-member Punjab Assembly are due early next year.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)